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My MPGs are currently around 26 MPG but I drive about 3.5 miles to work with a few stop signs and somewhat hilly roads.

You will never see advertised MPGs with those driving conditions, even after your engine is fully broken in.

If you want to see what your car is capable of, go on a road trip consisting of mostly highway miles (hundreds of them), and set the cruise control at the posted speed limit. Don't run A/C if you can help it, and don't roll your windows down. Make sure your tire pressure is good. Fill up your tank and reset your odometer just before getting on the highway.

You will never see advertised MPGs with those driving conditions, even after your engine is fully broken in.

If you want to see what your car is capable of, go on a road trip consisting of mostly highway miles (hundreds of them), and set the cruise control at the posted speed limit. Don't run A/C if you can help it, and don't roll your windows down. Make sure your tire pressure is good. Fill up your tank and reset your odometer just before getting on the highway.

That should do it.

and when he said posted, he re really mean less than 70 or about 65 mph.

that's kind of my point actually. If I can get close to the "city" MPG number with my commute I'd consider that a success.

Yeah, that short commute is really a challenge for your MPG numbers. The engine is just warming up when you've arrived at your destination. That's no way to achieve stellar MPGs.

If it wasn't for range anxiety on longer trips, I'd suggest that you get a Nissan Leaf, or the new Honda Fit EV. Your daily commute is perfect for an electric vehicle.

Of course, EVs price out much higher than the Impreza. It would take a long time to make up that price difference. So enjoy your Impreza, turn off your trip odometers because it's not worth looking at with your driving scenario, and enjoy your new Impreza!

Looks like the CRV has 112 vehicles on fuelly for 2012 with an average of 27.3mpg (Also, you quoted the 2wd mpg number, not the 4wd which is 22/30, and the rogue fwd is 23/28 while the awd is only supposed to be 22/26). The rogue as only 11 2012s reporting with an average of 25.8. The impreza has 192 cars logged and an average of 28.1. So, the honda and rogue are basically right in the middle of their city/highway numbers and the impreza is about 10% shy of its middle number (which would be 31.5). Not that I would want either of their AWD systems over the subaru, which is spectacular compared with our old honda element.

Let us not forget about the apples to apples comparison. A tall riding CUV like the CRV with 185 5 speed auto and it most likely weighs more than the low slung 148 hp/CVT Impreza. Sure. The Impreza will impress you with it's MPG if you drive painfully slow and for me thats not the real world. If you drive normal and with 148 hp, I'm on the gas all the time. I will get 23mpg max city. I have not tried HYW but I average 70-80mph so my assumption is the 36 mpg rating will not exist. The strange thing is my 10 Outback wagon gets the same MPG as the Impreza driven the same way.

Yeah, that short commute is really a challenge for your MPG numbers. The engine is just warming up when you've arrived at your destination. That's no way to achieve stellar MPGs.

If it wasn't for range anxiety on longer trips, I'd suggest that you get a Nissan Leaf, or the new Honda Fit EV. Your daily commute is perfect for an electric vehicle.

Of course, EVs price out much higher than the Impreza. It would take a long time to make up that price difference. So enjoy your Impreza, turn off your trip odometers because it's not worth looking at with your driving scenario, and enjoy your new Impreza!

If I could guarantee I'd be sticking with this job for the next 5-10 years I'd agree with you but if I get a new job it probably won't be nearly as close. I'm enjoying it! I have no complaints about the way the car drives.

You will never see advertised MPGs with those driving conditions, even after your engine is fully broken in.

If you want to see what your car is capable of, go on a road trip consisting of mostly highway miles (hundreds of them), and set the cruise control at the posted speed limit. Don't run A/C if you can help it, and don't roll your windows down. Make sure your tire pressure is good. Fill up your tank and reset your odometer just before getting on the highway.

That should do it.

A/c was on in my pic :-) and i usually accelerate in 3rd until 65-70 then go to 5th when I'm getting on the highway.

Basically I put it on when ever i'm on a stretch over a few miles. Better than trying to feather the throttle all the time. It seems to help with MPG even when covering not so long distances and simply using th trigger to accel/decel when need be.

Yes, I use it frequently and it makes a big difference. It does seem that cruise will get you better mileage than manual, by evening out the acceleration.

There are those that will argue that they can get better gas mileage by not trying to maintain speed going up a hill, as cruise control will do. I'm sure they are probably right. However, I find it hard to enjoy driving the car if I'm obsessed with maximizing mpg all the time.

If you want to get good mpg while just relaxing and enjoying the driving experience, cruise control is the way to go.

Of course, to use cruise control, you have to live in a place where it is usable: not driving in city traffic with a stop sign every block or two, and not driving congested freeway traffic.

The Impreza will impress you with it's MPG if you drive painfully slow and for me thats not the real world. If you drive normal and with 148 hp, I'm on the gas all the time. The strange thing is my 10 Outback wagon gets the same MPG as the Impreza driven the same way.

Well, the thing is everyone has a different normal way of driving. For me it is a game - how can I win at fuel economy? I don't necessarily play it all the time, but I'm reasonably good at it. That is how I'm averaging the highway rating of 38 (ok 37.7) mpg with our fiat. So, how is it that I can do pretty darn well with the Fiat, and so poorly with the impreza? I should be getting about 32 with the fiat if all else were equal, but obviously all else is not equal.

Regarding your comment about the Outback getting the same MPG as the impreza...doesn't that bother you?!

Regarding your comment about the Outback getting the same MPG as the impreza...doesn't that bother you?!

Some people are just like "Meh" about the whole thing. Or they are happy just to be getting better MPG than their previous car. And that is fine for them. Personally it drives me crazy that much larger, heavier, less aerodynamic cars with bigger engines are in the same MPG range as the Impreza for real world driving. My Impreza feels like it is walking on eggshells when trying to get good MPG. It needs warm weather, flat ground, no hills, all long drives, and I can't have the AC on much. Then I can throw down some impressive MPG for short runs.

I bought an Impreza sedan to save money on gas for long trips. Now my brain is thinking "I should have just purchased a Legacy since the MPG would have been about the same."

Some people are just like "Meh" about the whole thing. Or they are happy just to be getting better MPG than their previous car. And that is fine for them. Personally it drives me crazy that much larger, heavier, less aerodynamic cars with bigger engines are in the same MPG range as the Impreza for real world driving. My Impreza feels like it is walking on eggshells when trying to get good MPG. It needs warm weather, flat ground, no hills, all long drives, and I can't have the AC on much. Then I can throw down some impressive MPG for short runs.

I bought an Impreza sedan to save money on gas for long trips. Now my brain is thinking "I should have just purchased a Legacy since the MPG would have been about the same."

I feel the same way as you only I would've gotten the '11 Impreza with the bigger engine instead of waiting for the '12. But if I let it drive me nuts or infuriate me, this would be a very long 10 yrs for me. I plan on driving this car into the ground & I just gotta let it go because there's nothing that can be done about it. I've just accepted it for what it is.

I feel the same way as you only I would've gotten the '11 Impreza with the bigger engine instead of waiting for the '12. But if I let it drive me nuts or infuriate me, this would be a very long 10 yrs for me. I plan on driving this car into the ground & I just gotta let it go because there's nothing that can be done about it. I've just accepted it for what it is.

I feel the same way as you only I would've gotten the '11 Impreza with the bigger engine instead of waiting for the '12. But if I let it drive me nuts or infuriate me, this would be a very long 10 yrs for me. I plan on driving this car into the ground & I just gotta let it go because there's nothing that can be done about it. I've just accepted it for what it is.

Yep... I hear ya. I just wish I didn't have to try so hard to get better MPGs. Not all cars are as difficult as Subaru.

If you got the identical MPG's from a new Forester or Outback, that you are getting from your new Impreza (which I don't think you would, the new ones are now also PZEV), it would cost you more to buy it, so any fuel savings would be offset by the higher cost to buy it (as well as the cost for larger tires, etc).

If you got the identical MPG's from a new Forester or Outback, that you are getting from your new Impreza (which I don't think you would, the new ones are now also PZEV), it would cost you more to buy it, so any fuel savings would be offset by the higher cost to buy it (as well as the cost for larger tires).

Looks like i would be averaging probably 4mpg less with a forester compared to my car. I certainly don't think it would be the same, but i would have more cargo space

At 3000 miles my Sport Limited CVT PSEV has averaged 26mpg with the lowest at 20mpg and the highest at 34 mpg. I tried non-ethanol, but there was little difference and the math doesn't work. Running from Nashville to Atlanta yesterday on E10 at 75mph yielded nearly 32mpg. So not bad.

Also note that cars are tested at EPA's lab in Michigan on fuel you cannot buy. It is a high carbon high - btu fuel used for consistent testing. The cars are driven on a dyno in grandma mode, so the mpg on the sticker is a theoretical best case. Because of this you are unlikely to attain these numbers in real driving conditions. And really, the point is to have fun with the car.

Also note that cars are tested at EPA's lab in Michigan on fuel you cannot buy. It is a high carbon high - btu fuel used for consistent testing. The cars are driven on a dyno in grandma mode, so the mpg on the sticker is a theoretical best case. Because of this you are unlikely to attain these numbers in real driving conditions. And really, the point is to have fun with the car.

but then why do some others get better than epa numbers with their old FWD vehicles?

At 3000 miles my Sport Limited CVT PSEV has averaged 26mpg with the lowest at 20mpg and the highest at 34 mpg. I tried non-ethanol, but there was little difference and the math doesn't work. Running from Nashville to Atlanta yesterday on E10 at 75mph yielded nearly 32mpg. So not bad.

It's not bad until you look at a 13 Accord with a 278hp six rated at 34 highway.

Why is everyone so stuck on the estimate on the sticker? They are just that; ESTIMATES!! As indicated by the big bold letters above the ratings. Not only that, but just below the numbers everyone is so stuck on is an "expected range for most drivers" which states 29-43....those numbers seem like a good representation of what everyone is getting, so then, what's the big deal? You are expecting to get EXACTLY the estimated mpg instead of somewhere in the range they say to expect? Get over it, be realistic, or get a new car!